The Miz vs. Apollo Crews Announced for WWE SummerSlam 2016 PPV

On SmackDown Live on Tuesday night, Apollo Crews earned an Intercontinental Championship opportunity against The Miz at SummerSlam.

Crews won a Triple Threat match that also included Baron Corbin and Kalisto. WWE shared a replay of Crews pinning Kalisto for the victory:

Since he debuted in NXT, WWE has done little with Crews beyond his NXT title match with Finn Balor last November and non-title rematch with Balor in February:

Crews is supremely gifted and a good technical wrestler for his size. Those two things only go so far, though, to help a Superstar connect with the fans. Like Neville, Tyler Breeze and Emma following her first call-up, WWE seemingly had little idea about what it wanted to do with Crews after promoting him to the main roster.

As a result, Crews has been stuck in midcard purgatory.

While putting him in a feud with The Miz could help him build momentum, the Intercontinental Championship remains so devalued that any storylines involving the belt are largely afterthoughts for many fans.

Even after the brand split, the IC and United States titles may be beyond the point that they can be salvaged. And if the two secondary championships can be elevated again, the process will need months—not weeks—after WWE hit the reset button with the draft.

The Miz has been among the more entertaining Superstars in WWE over the last few months, and bringing his wife, Maryse, back into the frame has only turned him into a more effective heel.

Looking at the bigger picture, having Crews play off The Miz during a Miz TV segment or interview backstage could help could help refine Crews' character and bring out his charisma—two things he desperately needs.